LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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GUIDE 



TO 



NANTUCKET 



WITH MAPS 

OF 

THE ISLAND 
THE TOWN 
AND 'SCONSET 



By 
J. H. ROBINSON 

FORMERLY OF NANTUCKET 



Copyrinht, IWS, by J. H. Rubi.xkjx 



JUN 28 1905 

- ^ U~ KK<- (Kj. 



NANTUCKET. 



First Glimpse. Whether this be our first 
trip to Nantucket or one of 
many, we are eager to catch the first glimpse 
of the island in the distance, as it appears 
to rise slowl}- out of the water. That all 
nxzy have an equal chance to share the 
honors of first sight, the following infor- 
mation is given : 

Leaving Cottage City, the steamer heads 
for Nantucket. On the right Cape Poge 
Light is soon passed, and nine miles beyond 
(not yet in sight) is Muskeget, one of the 
group of islands forming the county of 
Nantucket. If the day be clear and we 
keep a sharp lookout ahead (bearing a little 
to the right', Muskeget, just referred to, 
the island of Tuckernuck, and finally Nan- 
tucket can be seen — at first a faint haze, 
but every moment increasing in distinct- 
ness. The Wannacomet water tank, from 
which the town of Nantucket is supplied, 
appears like a black spot on the horizon, 
and then the houses on the cliff, back of 
which the town itself is hidden. 

Nantucket is the largest 

Notes of Interest. r „ „,^„„ ^r -lo^j^ 
or a group or islands 

known as Nantucket county, Massachu- 
setts. It is situated about thirty miles 
south of Cape Cod, Nantucket Sound being 
on the north and the Atlantic Ocean on the 
east and south. The nearest land on the 
east is Portugal, and on the south the West 
Indies. 

In summer the temperature of the atmos- 
phere is rarely over eighty-five degrees, 
while that of the water is from seventy to 
seventy-four degrees. 

An ideal place to spend a vacation is 
Nantucket, whether it be for the sake of 



health or entirely for pleasure. If for 
health, all the benefits of an ocean voyage 
may be expected. Malaria is unknown. 
All physicians, whether summer or perma- 
nent residents, agree that the climate is 
most beneficial for recuperative purposes. 

The pleasure- seeker will find all that can 
be desired at the seaside. To his heart's 
content he may indulge in bathing — still- 
water or surf ; in boating — sailing or row- 
ing ; in fishing, in driving, or in bicycling. 

Botanists have here an exceptional field. 
On the moors wild flowers of rare beaut\' 
grow in variety, while in the town the 
English ivy flourishes throughout the year. 
Artists find in the quaint old place oppor- 
tunities for their talent. 

The town clock in the Unitarian Church 
tower (^churches are marked on the map ) 
strikes the hour of the day, the bell pealing 
forth for a little while at seven in the morn- 
ing, at noon, and at nine in the evening. 

The population is 3,000 at present, but 
it was 9,7r2 in 1S40, at which time Nan- 
tucket was the largest whaling port in the 
world . 

The "Bedford." a Nantucket whaler. 
was the first vessel to hoist the American 
flag in a British port after the Revolution. 

In rSjo whales could be seen from look- 
outs erected on the south side of the island, 
and were captured by men who put out in 
small boats from the shore. 

Only a few large trees are found on the 
island, outside of the town, although there 
is evidence that in r630 several groves ex- 
isted, which were used probabl}- for building 
purposes. There are small groves of dwarf 
pines, the first planted in rS47. 



TOWN OF NANTUCKET. 

(See map opposite.) 



Nantucket Historical Here may be found 
Society (Museum). many interesting old 
records, and also a 
fine museum, considered one of the best in 
.he State. The old meeting-house on Fair 
street, adjoining the fireproof building of 
the Society, was built by the Friends in 
1838, being originally used by them as a 
school. 

Old House. This is the Jethro Coffin house, 
on North Shore Hill On the 
front of the chimney there is a horseshoe 
formed of brick, while on the back we read 
" 1686," the date when the house was 
built. 

Old North Vestry. This structure, built of 
wood grown on the 
island, was erected in 171 1, west of the 
town. In 1765 it was moved to Beacon 
Hill, where the present Congregational 
Church is located, and in 1834 was shifted 
toward the rear of the site so as to make 
room for the new church building, in con- 
nection with which it is still used. 

Jail. Built in 1805, it ^^^^ ever been noted 
for the fewness and orderliness of its 
occupants. 

Old Windmill. It was built in 1746. The 
timbers used in its con- 
struction are said to have grown just across 
Dead Horse Valley, on the south. 

Public Library. The Public Library is at 
the Atheneum, on Federal 
street. Among its many volumes may be 
found books relating to Nantucket. 



Cliff Bathing; Beach. The beach is noted 
for its still - water 
bathing. Can be reached by carriage, mak- 
ing regular trips from Main street ; b}' the 
boat, leaving the Old North wharf, or by 
walking, as many prefer. 

Warm salt-water baths can be had at an 
e.stablishment near the steamboat wharf. 

Cemeteries. The cemeteries, most of which 
are shown on the map, are in- 
teresting because of their quaint epitaphs. 
The oldest burial ground is on a hill near 
Maxcy's Pond, west of the town, where a 
granite monument has been recently erected 
over the grave of John Gardiner, one of the 
great men who had to do with the begin- 
nings of Nantucket. The next oldest ceme- 
tery is the Old North. 

Brant Point. This is the site of the first 
light-house in the United 
States, erected in 1746. 

Unitarian Church From this tower a fine 
Tower. view may be had of the 

town and island. It is 
not open at all hours, the most favorable 
time for a visit being when the bell rings at 
noon. 

The Cliff, From the Cliff on a clear 

North Shore, day, many vessels may be 

seen sailing down the Sound. 

Birthplace of Maria Maria Mitchell, the 
Mitchell. great astronomer, was 

born here in August, 
18 18, her birthplace an old house in Vestal 
street, near the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monu- 
ment. Its building dates back to 1790. 



VILLAGE OF SIASCONSET. 

(See map opposite.) 



Siasconset. Commonly called " 'Sconset;" 
can be reached by train, or by 
carriage or bicycle via Orange street and 
State road. A fine drive is by way of Polpis 
and Sankaty Light, returning by the State 
road. Shawaukemmo Spring is on the road 
to Polpis. 

Fine surf bathing at 'Sconset, where also 
are several hotels. x\ wireless telegraph 



station here, the first in America established 
for actual business, reports the movements 
of ocean liners pas.sing about sixty miles 
south of the island. 

It is a pleasant walk along the bluflf to 
Sankaty Head, or across the beach to Tom 
Never's Head (where a naval battle took 
place in 1814 just offshore), or over the 
moors back of the town. 



OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST, 

(See map of the island for location, distances, etc.) 



Wattwinet. Wauwinet is at the head of the 
harbor near the narrow stretch 
of beach called the " Haulover," so named 
because small boats used to be hauled over 
it as a short cut home, thus saving the sail 
around Great Point. In recent years the 
ocean has broken through into the harbor, 
and the passageway thus created is called 
the " Haulover Opening." 

Wauwinet can be reached by boat from 
the Old North wharf, or by carriage or bicy- 
cle via Orange street and Polpis. Good 
drinking water may be had at Shawaukemmo 
Spring, on the road to Polpis, and at Eat 
Fire Spring, on the road to Wauwinet. 

While at Wauwinet you may enjoy the 
still- water or surf bathing, or a walk up the 
beach to the "opening" ortoSquam Head. 
Dinner can be had at the hotel here, but 
many prefer to picnic on the beach while 
watching the surf. 

Quidnet. Quidnet is reached by carriage 
via Orange street, Shawaukemmo 
Spring, and Polpis. The attractions consist 
of surf bathing, shore dinners, perch fishing 
in Sesachacha Pond, and walk to Squarn 
Head or Sankaty. 



Surfside, Surfside, where the Surfside Life- 
saving Station is situated, is at 
the South Shore. It is reached by carriage 
or bicycle via Main street. Pleasant street, 
and Atlantic avenue, or you may reach it 
on foot, it being a fine walk by the bicycle 
path, which branches from the main road 
on your right when well out of town. 

Great Neck. This is the site of the Mad- 
dequet Life-saving Station, 
and is reached by carriage or bicycle via 
Main street and Maddequet road. Fountain 
on the Maddequet road marks the site of 
Peter Folger's house, where on August 15, 
1667, was born his daughter Abiah, mother 
of Benjamin Franklin. 

Maddequet, on the right before reaching 
the Life-saving Station, is probably where 
the first settlers landed. 

Boats and Fishing^. Sail boats with skip- 
pers are for hire at the 
steamboat wharf for fishing and sailing par- 
ties. Boats without skippers and also row- 
boats can be hired at the Old North wharf. 

Wrecks. Wrecks of vessels are sometimes 
found along shore partly embed- 
ded in the sand. 



OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST (Continued). 

Life-saving Stations. Besides those at Surf- Long Rambles. To the Cliff, thence along 

side and Great Neck, shore to Eel Point, 

already mentioned, there are life-saving sta- m o c • i i , i ^ 

tions at Coskata and at Muskeget. ^9 Surfside, thence along shore to Great 

The Coskata Station, formerly reached ^^^k. 

by the beach road from Wauwinet, has been Ride to 'Sconset, thence along shore to 

entirely isolated since the Haulover opening. Surfside. 

It is a fine walk up the beach from Coatue, ^,r^ -^-ii-r^i ■, r^ , 

which is across from Brant Point. .^^^ Sconset via Gibbs Pond and Sauls 

To Muskeget is a delightful sail. ■^^^^^• 

During the months of June and July sta- To Wauwinet by boat, thence along shore 

tions are in charge of the keeper only; they to 'Sconset. 

are fully manned all the other months of iv^,-,, t^^ 'c ^ ^ * +t, r .. • 

, ^ 1 ram to Sconset, thence on toot via 

the year. Polpis to Wauwinet, boat home. (Make 

Tucfcernock. Many sailing parties visit sure of boat's saihng time.) 

this little island in the course Coatue, Coskata, and Great Point should 

of the summer. be visited. 

HOTELS, ROOMS, ETC. 

Nantucket has a number of first-class hotels (see maps of town and 'Sconset) and 
boarding-houses. Many private houses have rooms for rent during the summer months. 

BUSINESS FACILITIES. 

Telegraph office, at the Weather Bureau, Orange street; Post-office; Pacific National 
Bank ; Inquirer and Mirror, the only newspaper printed on the island, issued every Fri- 
day evening. 

HISTORY. 

Nantucket was discovered by Bartholomew Gosnold in 1602, and was deeded in 1641 
by the Earl of Stirling to Thomas Mayhew and his son, who in 1659, for thirty pounds 
and two beaver hats, sold nine-tenths of their interest to Tristram Coffin, Thomas Macy, 
Christopher Hussey, Richard Swayne, Thomas Barnard, Peter Coffin, Stephen Greenlief , 
John Swayne, and William Pike, of Salisbury, Massachusetts. 

Thomas Macy, Isaac Coleman, Edward Starbuck, Tristram Coffin and his son James 
spent the winter of 1659 on the island, building their house, it is supposed, at Maddequet. 
On the island at that time there were 3,000 Indians, 1,500 of whom were carried off by 
an epidemic in i763-'64. The last Indian died in 1S22. 

The first actual settlement was in 1661, and extended from Capaum Pond southward, 
being called Sherburne. In 1673 the town was moved to the present locality, known to 
the Indians as " Wesco." The name of the town was Sherburne until 1795, when it was 
changed to Nantucket. 

j,-l^^ BOOKS RELATING TO NANTUCKET. Author 

Miriam Coffin James C. Hart. 

An Island Plant Mary Catherine Lee. 

vSea-girt Nantucket ............ Henry S. Wyer. 

There She Blows William Hussey Macy. 

'Sconset Cottage Life .......... A. Judd NorthrujD. 

History of Nantucket ............ Obed Macy. 

History of the Whale Fishery ......... Alexander Starbuck. 

Quaint Nantucket ........... William Root Bliss. 

Poems of Nantucket (selected) ......... Henry S. Wyer. 

SUGGESTIONS FOR CORRECTIONS IN THE MAPS OR THE LETTER-PRESS MAY BE ADDRESSED TO I932 FIRST 

STREET N. VV., W.iSHINGTON, D. C. 



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